Edward flint



NITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD FLINT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

INSTRUMENT FOR EXTRACTING HAIR FROM SKINS.

specification of Letters rat-ent No. 244, dated June so, 1837.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD FLINT, of the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented a new and. useful Instrument for Extracting Hairsfrom Fur-Skins, lwhich Instrument I call the Clamp Fur-Knife, and thatthe following is an exact and acc-urate description thereof The name ofthe instrument in a measurel indicates its form, it being a clamp, thetwo jaws of which are oblong and fastened centrally with the broad sidecrosswise to the two ends of a flat bow spring resembling in form andsize the common sugar tongs, and when not compressed keeping the jawsopen or apart about one inch. The jaws (made of wood or other material)may be about four inches long by one inch wide and onehalf inch thick.One of these is designed to supply the place` and office of the thumb asused in extracting hairs with the common knife, and is therefore coveredor cushioned on the inside with leather, india rubber, or other suitablematerial. To the upper (or more properly as this instrument is used) tothe lower side or edge of the other jaw is fastened with screws orotherwise a thin steel plate as long as the jaw and of sufficient widthforming a blade with a keen edge extending over the side of this about-linch toward the cushioned jaw, upon which ust above but very near itslower side or edge the blade is designed to act. On the backside of thecushioned jaw near its ends are fixed two loops of leather into whichthe operator inserts his thumbs for the purpose of conveniently holdingand using the knife. If found necessary or convenient loops may likewisebe fixed for the fingers upon the blade jaw.

I next describe the manner of using the instrument. The pelt is confinedupon a form or beam with a cord or strap pressed by the foot in theordinary way, although it will be found much better if a beam be used asbroad or broader than the pelt andV only slightly rounded, that the peltmay lie upon it nearly level and that it be cushioned also and coveredwith india rubber. The beam thus arranged and the pelt confined upon itas usual, the operator inserts his thumbs into the loops aforesaid andextending his fingers over the blade jaw grasps and extracts the hairsin a manner too obvious to need description, unless it be observed thatin finishing or removing the shorter hairs the lower corner of thecushioned jaw should press constantly upon the pelt and the instrumentat every clip should turn upon -that corner toward the operator. Thismotion leaves the surface of the fur smooth and level.

Instead of a spring I shall make some knives with a hinge or hinges,some also with a pivot and handles like a tailors shears, and in some,too, I shall extend the jaws into handles at each end, but thearrangement of the cushion and blade is the

